| 1 |
> > What I'm trying to determine is, if AT&T or T-Mobile have the |
| 2 |
> > type of service you're describing: |
| 3 |
> > |
| 4 |
> > 1. will it work in both "analog" and "digital" service areas |
| 5 |
> > 2. does the phone need to support anything in particular to use it |
| 6 |
> |
| 7 |
> AT&T and T-Mobile are both GSM (digital) only. They don't have |
| 8 |
> any AMPS service. AFAIK, only the older CDMA carriers |
| 9 |
> (Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, etc.) have AMPS service -- and not |
| 10 |
> all of their phones will fall back to AMPS even if there is |
| 11 |
> AMPS service available). Most/all of the AMPS service is going |
| 12 |
> away soon anyway. |
| 13 |
> |
| 14 |
> I think that pretty much all GSM phones support data calls (I |
| 15 |
> could be wrong). Whether or not the network will allow them |
| 16 |
> without paying extra for a data plan is the question. |
| 17 |
|
| 18 |
Got it. Is this official data plan service something that will work |
| 19 |
anywhere a GSM signal is had, or does there need to be a special type |
| 20 |
of service in the area? |
| 21 |
|
| 22 |
> > I don't think I'll have any luck finding a cell phone with an |
| 23 |
> > analog modem jack. Were you using an analog modem plugged |
| 24 |
> > into your cell phone with the service you were first |
| 25 |
> > describing? |
| 26 |
> |
| 27 |
> No. The "free" low-speed service offered by Verizon (and |
| 28 |
> apparently by Sprint) is all-digital. You just need a phone |
| 29 |
> and a data-cable. NB: it's possible that not all phones are |
| 30 |
> data-call capable or that the carrier has disabled that feature |
| 31 |
> in some phones. The tough part is that at least Verizon's |
| 32 |
> support for minutes-only data-calls is strictly unofficial. If |
| 33 |
> you stop at a store, they will claim (probably truthfully) to |
| 34 |
> know nothing about it. If you call Verizon support, the 1st |
| 35 |
> line support staff will also know nothing about it. If you can |
| 36 |
> work your way up a few layers, you can probably find somebody |
| 37 |
> who does know about it, but even they might not be allowed to |
| 38 |
> talk to you about it. |
| 39 |
> |
| 40 |
> > I've got to go with GSM. If both Sprint and Verizon offer it, |
| 41 |
> > there is probably a good chance that AT&T and/or T-Mobile do |
| 42 |
> > too. |
| 43 |
> |
| 44 |
> Could be. If you find out, let us know. :) |
| 45 |
> |
| 46 |
> What I do is use Verizon CDMA (far better coverage than any of |
| 47 |
> the GSM networks) in the US and I have a GSM phone that I use |
| 48 |
> internationally. You can get good used unlocked tri and |
| 49 |
> quad-band GSM phones for $20 and up. You can get brand new |
| 50 |
> ones for $30 and up. I got nearly new used Noka candy-bar |
| 51 |
> phone that's US-only for $18 off craig's list and a brand-new |
| 52 |
> quad-band Motorola V190 off ebay for $40. Just for giggles I |
| 53 |
> have a AT&T pre-paid SIM for my GSM phones so I can use them as |
| 54 |
> backups in the US. |
| 55 |
|
| 56 |
That's an interesting idea. It would be nice to have an AT&T plan |
| 57 |
that works all over the world, but I wonder if there is a big enough |
| 58 |
difference between CDMA and GSM reception in the US to justify two |
| 59 |
phones and buying SIM cards. |
| 60 |
|
| 61 |
- Grant |
| 62 |
-- |
| 63 |
gentoo-user@g.o mailing list |
Archives